Val

Val came to Caring Hands because when she retired as a pharmacy dispenser, she got bored and missed seeing people. She knew the manager at Caring Hands, and asked if she could volunteer. She has learnt a lot about putting herself in other people’s shoes. “Mental health problems are not obvious, not like a broken arm. I used to think ‘they could say thank you’ if I gave someone food or drink, but now I think, I wonder how they spent the night?

"Homelessness puts a different perspective on things. I hope I can smile and chat and make a bit of a difference to people. When you see an argument break out, and Tom and Simon go out and pour oil on troubled waters you know they are in the place they’re meant to be.”